Wildfire risk is intensifying globally, with longer and more severe fire seasons posing significant challenges to communities and ecosystems. At the forefront of addressing this issue is Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in British Columbia, where TRU Wildfire serves as a national hub for wildfire research, education, training, and innovation. The program emphasizes an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to develop practical solutions tailored to diverse landscapes and community needs.
Jill Harvey, Canada Research Chair in Fire Ecology and a faculty member at TRU, highlights the necessity of integrating multiple perspectives. “Wildfire is a complex problem that cannot be solved by a single approach,” Harvey said. “We need partnerships among academic researchers, forest managers, policymakers, practitioners, and community members to translate research into actionable tools and recommendations.”
One example of this collaborative approach is a recent graduate student project with the Ulkatcho First Nation in the West Chilcotin region of British Columbia. The research focused on the impact of wildfire on caribou habitat, a priority identified by the Ulkatcho community. The study examined forest regeneration patterns and the recovery of terrestrial and arboreal lichens, which are critical food sources for caribou. Results showed that post-fire lodgepole pine forests could remain densely populated with trees—up to 7,000 to 9,000 stems per hectare—even 40 years after a wildfire, impeding lichen recovery. These findings suggest that caribou habitats may take 60 to 100 years to fully recover and raise questions about potential interventions such as forest thinning to support habitat restoration.
Historical and Indigenous knowledge also plays a crucial role in understanding wildfire resilience. Using dendrochronology to study tree rings, researchers have identified that certain interior British Columbia forest ecosystems experienced frequent fires every 15 to 25 years for centuries. However, changes in forest management and fire suppression over the past century have led to increased fuel loads, contributing to more severe fires, such as the 2021 Churn Creek wildfire, which devastated long-studied forest sites. Harvey emphasizes that Indigenous fire stewardship practices, which historically involved frequent deliberate burns to manage landscapes, offer valuable guidance for modern wildfire management.
TRU Wildfire’s work extends beyond ecological research to include social justice, emergency management, and community engagement. Following a severe wildfire in Jasper, Alberta, in 2024, TRU experts analyzed fire behaviour to inform resilience strategies like reducing fuel near communities and applying FireSmart principles. The team includes specialists in visual storytelling, wildlife ecology, recovery, and tourism, demonstrating the need for comprehensive, interdisciplinary responses.
A key component of TRU Wildfire’s mission is education and workforce development. The university recently launched Canada’s first Diploma in Wildfire Studies and offers multiple wildfire-related programs addressing scientific, social, and emergency response dimensions. Through partnerships with the BC Wildfire Service and other agencies, TRU delivers in-community firefighter training, having prepared nearly 300 type 2 firefighters over two years to enhance local preparedness and response capacity.
By bridging research, traditional knowledge, policymaking, and community involvement, TRU Wildfire aims to accelerate innovation and improve wildfire resilience. “Prepared communities recover faster and adapt more effectively,” Harvey said, underscoring the ongoing commitment to equipping future leaders and supporting vulnerable regions. As wildfire risks continue to evolve under changing climatic conditions, institutions like TRU play a pivotal role in fostering adaptable, science-informed solutions that promote landscape and community sustainability.